Create KML overlays for Google Earth

This page will help you create alternate overlays for use with Google Earth. It's true that Google Earth already contains high-resolution satellite data for many cities (and even some non-urban areas); but in parts of the U.S., the USGS black-and-white 1m aerial photos provide better detail, and the USGS topo maps contain information which is not available in GE in any form. For the rest of the world, the images from NASA's MODIS satellites might be of interest, if your data covers a large area; they transmit up-to-date (but low-resolution) images back to earth every day.

If you try to generate an overlay and get an error about a map server being unavailable: my sincere apologies, but it's out of my control.

(If your intent was to convert your tracks or waypoints to KML for use in Google Earth, you'll need to use the Google Earth map input form.)

Custom Maps:

If you have a Garmin Colorado, Oregon, or Dakota series GPS, and you want to use this page to create a map overlay to load onto your device, make sure that in the form below, "Ground Overlay type" is set to Static, and "Size of overlay" is no more than 1024 pixels; those settings should allow your overlays to work properly on your GPS. Or, simply use the special Garmin network link from within Google Earth. (A firmware update to your device may be required; see GPSFix.net or Garmin's blog for more details on custom maps.)

Upload GPS data or a KML file:

Use the input boxes here to create an overlay based on the area covered by an existing KML or GPS data file. Please note that any data you upload will NOT be included in the KMZ output file; it will only be used to calculate the coverage of the map. Use the map form to draw tracks and waypoints.

File #1

File #2

File #3

Uploaded data options

Padding around data:

Use waypoints to calculate area:

Discard outlying waypoints:

Enter a center point:

Enter either a set of coordinates or a geographical location.
A location can be an airport code, a ZIP/postal code (U.S., Canada, or U.K.),
a U.S. city/state, or a North American street address.

Location:

Latitude:

°

Longitude:

°

Enter the height and width, in km or miles, of the desired overlay.
Note that if dimensions="Square" in the right side of this form, the larger of these two values will be used for both height & width.

Height (N-S):

Width (E-W):

Specify boundaries:

If you know the bounding coordinates of the area you want to see, you can enter them here.
East and north are positive; west and south are negative.